Contents

Conclusions & next steps

We are clear that we all need to be adequately prepared for
Brexit come March 29
th 2019, and understand absolutely the sensitivities
surrounding the ongoing
UK negotiations on
Brexit. We also need to better understand what Brexit really means
for Scotland, for rural Scotland and for those communities and
businesses across rural Scotland who have benefitted from
EU membership for the
past 44 years. Our view is that post Brexit, a trade deal between
the
UK and the
EU preserving access to
the single market and free movement of people would be the least
worst option for rural Scotland.

We also appreciate that this moment in time offers us all an
opportunity (regardless of Brexit or the form of Brexit) to take a
step back and consider how policies, programmes and funding can
better serve the needs of our rural society, rural economy,
environment and the wider Scottish economy. How can we support the
development of the rural Scotland we want to see? How can we work
more collaboratively? How can we enable innovation? How can we
protect key species and habitats? How can we increase productivity
and drive inclusive growth effectively? How can we better support
family owned, micro and social enterprises that so dominate rural
areas? Some areas highlighted in this report need not await the
outcome of Brexit negotiations as they could be usefully explored
by this Council alongside the full breadth of rural stakeholders as
we work towards establishing future principles and support for
rural Scotland.

As stated earlier, we have identified the following key areas
that we believe must be considered in advance of Brexit. They are
by no means intended to be exhaustive, but trust they offer a
meaningful contribution to the ongoing process and will aid the
work of the relevant decision makers and key influencers as they
prepare for the
UK's exit from the
EU.

Pre Brexit we should:

Scope out future policy framework for rural areas including
at regional / local level,
e.g. application of inclusive growth at the local
level to better meet the local circumstances.

Explore potential for less complexity and greater coherence
in future funding programmes with greater focus on clear set of
outcomes that meet policy aspirations for rural areas post
2020.

Explore potential for simplification of future funding
programmes coupled with guarantees to maintain or increase on
EU (including
co-financing) funding levels from the 2014-20 programming
period.

Develop an appropriate framework (working with
UK/
EU partners during
negotiations) to support co-operation through continued
participation in
EU programmes such as
LEADER,
Interreg, H2020.

Press for early certainty on immigration policy, in
particular scope for a Scottish migration policy coupled with
clarity on rules on the future movement of workers (but not
exclusively seasonal
EU workers) to allow
rural businesses to prepare for Brexit in good time (particularly
in hospitality, tourism, food, drink, agriculture &
fisheries). Early certainty should include the trialling of a
permit system for Scotland.

Commission analysis to understand gaps in knowledge on
current deployment of
EU nationals employed
regionally and locally by sector to understand the full scale of
the potential shortfall and options for mitigation. Engage with
Gangmaster Licencing Authority registered agencies to find out
what their impression is of
EU/Non
EU labour
availability.

Ensure business support services are well invested, informed
and respected, providing appropriate assistance at the right time
to prepare all rural businesses for Brexit.

Commission a study to look at cost base of competing products
to assess the competitive advantage or disadvantage at a range of
different tariff levels and trade scenarios.